Summary of Role:The Design Enablement Engineer, DRC/LVS/PEX is responsible for developing, qualifying, and deploying physical verification and parasitic extraction components for semiconductor Process Design Kits (PDKs). The role translates complex process and design requirements into accurate, robust, and efficient DRC, LVS, and PEX rule decks and verification flows, while advancing automation and AI/ML-assisted methodologies to improve PDK quality, development efficiency, and customer design success.
The Design Enablement Engineer develops and deploys critical PDK components that accurately represent semiconductor manufacturing processes within customer design and verification environments. The engineer will work at the intersection of
process technology, design rules, device modeling, EDA, circuit design, and physical design to create differentiated physical verification and extraction solutions that enable first-time-right product designs.
The role will have particular responsibility for
Design Rule Checking (DRC), Layout Versus Schematic (LVS), and Parasitic Extraction (PEX) rule development, validation, release, and continuous improvement. The engineer will also develop advanced automation and explore
AI/ML-based approaches for rule generation, test-case creation, coverage analysis, debugging, anomaly detection, and verification-flow optimization.
Essential Responsibilities:- Develop, code, qualify, and maintain DRC, LVS, and PEX rule decks and associated PDK components that accurately represent semiconductor process, device, interconnect, and design requirements.
- Translate process integration requirements, design rules, device definitions, and electrical models into production-quality physical verification and extraction solutions for customer and internal design flows.
- Develop comprehensive regression and test methodologies to validate rule-deck correctness, coverage, performance, scalability, and compatibility across supported technology and EDA environments.
- Analyze and debug complex DRC, LVS, and PEX issues, identify root causes, and work with process, modeling, design, and EDA teams to resolve discrepancies between process intent and design-flow implementation.
- Partner with process technology, design rule, compact modeling, reliability, circuit design, layout, and EDA teams to ensure accurate representation of semiconductor technologies throughout the design-to-manufacturing flow.
- Develop differentiated automation and AI/ML-assisted methodologies for rule-deck development, automated test generation, coverage assessment, error classification, anomaly detection, debugging, and continuous verification of PDK quality.
- Optimize physical verification and extraction flows for accuracy, runtime, memory usage, scalability, usability, and deployment into production design environments.
- Drive PDK quality and release readiness through structured qualification, regression testing, documentation, change management, and continuous improvement based on internal and customer design feedback.
Other Responsibilities:- Perform all activities in a safe and responsible manner and support all Environmental, Health, Safety & Security requirements and programs.
- Work and collaborate on other projects and/or assignments as needed.
Required Qualifications:- Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Microelectronics, Computer Science, Applied Physics, or a related technical field.
- Experience: Relevant experience in semiconductor PDK development, physical verification, EDA, IC physical design, parasitic extraction, or a related field, with minimum years aligned to the applicable GF career level.
- Physical Verification: Experience with DRC and/or LVS rule development, coding, debug, or qualification.
- PEX: Understanding of parasitic resistance and capacitance extraction, interconnect modeling, layout-dependent effects, and their impact on circuit performance.
- Semiconductor Technology: Working knowledge of CMOS process technologies, semiconductor devices, layout design rules, interconnect structures, and design-to-manufacturing interactions.
- EDA: Experience with industry-standard physical verification and/or extraction environments and rule-deck development methodologies.
- Programming/Automation: Experience with scripting or programming languages such as Python, Tcl, Perl, shell scripting, or equivalent for engineering automation, regression testing, and data analysis.
- Analytical Skills: Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex technical problems, perform structured root-cause analysis, and translate findings into robust engineering solutions.
- Travel: Up to 10%.
- Fluency in English Language: Written and verbal.
Preferred Qualifications- Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Microelectronics, Applied Physics, Computer Science, or a related field.
- Experience developing and releasing production PDK DRC, LVS, and/or PEX rule decks for semiconductor technologies.
- Experience with physical verification environments such as Siemens Calibre, Synopsys IC Validator, Cadence Pegasus/PVS, or equivalent tools.
- Experience with PEX technology-file development, RC extraction, process-corner modeling, and silicon/model correlation.
- Experience developing automated regression environments, rule coverage metrics, test structures, or PDK qualification methodologies.
- Experience applying AI/ML, generative AI, or data-driven techniques to semiconductor design enablement, such as automated rule coding, test-pattern generation, verification debug, error classification, or PDK quality analysis.
- Understanding of interactions among process integration, design rules, OPC/lithography, device modeling, reliability, extraction, and circuit design.
- Experience collaborating directly with EDA vendors and internal or external design teams to develop and deploy differentiated design enablement capabilities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong planning and organizational skills.
Job Complexity Shows mastery of a technical discipline and is recognized within the company as a senior member of a technical team. Initiative and creativity result in high degree of innovation while showing the capacity to solve major problems of an advanced complexity within his/her area of expertise. Solves complex, novel and non-recurring problems. Contributing inventor on a few patents. Contributing author on conference or journal publications. Accountability Works on and leads medium to large projects and assignments. Coaches and mentors less experienced staff, influences others as a technical leader. Regularly provides specialized technical guidance to others in work area. Participates in and/or leads cross-functional teams across sites. Relationship Focus Limited and supervised contact at engineering and logistical level. Serves as a member of the conference committees. Actively participates in external programs. Initiates projects with suppliers. Attends and participates in consortia technical reviews. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Increased knowledge plus broader technical knowledge that facilitates more integrative thinking. Requires a technical (University) degree. (Exceptions approved by local HR). BS + 6-7 years of experience or MS + 5-6 years or PhD + 3-4 years
Expected Salary Range$98,000.00 - $176,000.00
The exact Salary will be determined based on qualifications, experience and location.
